Poll. Will we be judged when we die?

[PinSeeker]

Yep, there's some I'd image that just got wet and nothing more.

Even back when I was a young believer we were always taught that you get born again first and then because you just got born again you go get baptized.

Some that are teaching the act of being baptized is being born again then they run the very real risk that all they are doing is dun king people in the water and not actually getting them born again.

Water baptism is the New Testament period equivalent of the act of circumcision, which was to be performed on male children at eight days old, as the sign and seal of the promise. It is a bit veiled, so to speak, but if you look at Colossians 2:11-12, you should be able to see this truth:

"In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, Who raised Him from the dead."

This sign was an outward visualization of the act of conferring salvation which can only be given by God. Circumcision was an act done in faith that God would work in the child at the time of His choosing and thereby confer salvation upon the child at some time in the future, during his life. It is the same now, except that the sign is now, as I said, water baptism, but it is done in faith that God will work in that child's heart at some time in the future and call him or her to be His.

In the Book of Acts people only got baptized after they believed (born again).

In acts 2:38, Peter was talking to all men who were present, probably thousands of men, telling them to repent and be baptized, "you and your children and all who are far off..." ~ so their entire households. Ostensibly, some of these men had infant children... <smile> Parents should have their children baptized as early as possible in their lives, because the promise is for them, too. <smile> They should not be excluded just because they cannot yet make a credible profession of faith. The prayer is that they would never know a day when they do not know Christ Jesus as their Savior. But still, it is about the parents' faith that God's promises are true, namely they God will draw that child to Himself at some point ~ cause him or her to be born again by His Spirit ~ Ephesians 2:4-10; 1 Peter 1:3-5) ~ and thus , as Paul says in Romans 2:29 ~ "circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit."

Water baptism is a public acknowledgement of entering in to covenant with the Lord...

It's a sacrament, Randy, and as such a sign of the saving work of the Lord. And again, should be given as early in one's life as possible, regardless of whether that person has expressed belief or not. Public profession of belief, and even belief itself, is not, or are not, prerequisites to water baptism.

Grace and peace to you.